20-36 High Street Manchester

CEG has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of 20-36 High Street, a predominantly vacant 1960s building which sits opposite the Arndale Centre.

The £79 million proposals would deliver 361 new homes, offering a mix of 1 – 3 bedrooms at this sustainable city centre location, close to jobs, facilities and with exceptional connections to the transport network.

The ground floor and a double height mezzanine would offer a vibrant space for independent cafés, restaurants and shops, providing around 65 jobs. The scheme reopens the Stationer’s Court to become a public space connecting the High Street and the Northern Quarter.

David Hodgson, Head of Strategic Development – North for CEG, said: "This is an exciting regeneration opportunity, delivering a design that is befitting of this gateway site and reflects High Street's former vibrancy and importance in the city. By reopening the historic Stationer's Court as a covered plaza, we can enhance pedestrian access between the High Street and Northern Quarter and provide a light-filled covered space to eat, drink and shop, enjoying views of the large feature tree planting we are proposing on Birchin Lane."

20 – 36 High Street is constrained, not environmentally friendly and unappealing to modern office occupiers. As it is reaching the end of its economic life, CEG has been considering the options for the site, so that it provides a more attractive and beneficial role to the street scene and the local economy.

CEG held public consultation events in early July 2017 and July 2018, to ensure that local residents and businesses could actively engage and comment on the proposals. The majority of those who attended were keen to see its redevelopment and welcomed green spaces, inspiring architecture and the creation of a vibrant ground floor plaza providing places to eat, drink and shop.

Regenerating a prominent City Centre site, which currently has a negative effect on the street scape, bringing it back into viable, active and beneficial use. The development would replace an underutilised, poor quality existing building which doesn't meet contemporary standards with exceptionally high-quality design and architecture with durable and easily maintained materials

Improving the pedestrian environment – offering a new linkage between the City Centre and the Northern Quarter, with an active frontage and attractive public realm and planting to create a place to walk through and enjoy its sheltered micro climate, as well as space to eat, drink, sit, meet and shop. The space presents opportunities to include art installations and temporary uses to encourage movement through the building

Delivering high quality, much needed homes, in a central, well-connected and sustainable location, contributing to meeting the growing demand for City Centre living close to jobs, services and transport connections. With apartments ranging between 1 and 3 bedrooms this will accommodate a range of housing needs and residents will have access to the landscaped roof terrace, ample cycle parking and work from home spaces

Providing independent retail spaces – the ground floor and mezzanine will be well managed to appeal to independent brands through a leaseholder management strategy. The plaza will be secured with gates after closing hours as part of the building’s management scheme

Upgrading the market facilities – following discussions with Manchester Markets and the market traders adjacent to the site, a concurrent planning application has been submitted to relocate the existing Church Street market stalls to their previous location adjacent to the Church Street NCP car park, providing increased frontage and additional facilities such as toilets, a market management office, as well as indoor and outdoor seating in an attractive well-landscaped setting

CEG has appointed FCB Studios, the architects behind Circle Square, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan Business School and Murray’s Mills in Ancoats. Alex Whitbread, Partner at FCB Studios, said: “Our design will create a grand mansion block at the corner of High Street and Church Street where the Northern Quarter and the city centre retail quarter meet.

"The architecture refers to the City’s past, drawing on the adjacent Debenhams and historic office buildings such as Sunlight House to create a new building which is distinctly and proudly Mancunian. The use of light ivory-white glazed ceramic tiles will also create a building that is light in colour and reflective in character."

FCB Studios has also designed proposals to relocate the popular market stalls on Church Street to a new contemporary style of accommodation offering indoor and outdoor areas, returning to their historic home next to the nearby Church Street car park. This will not only improve the outlook of this area, but it can also become a destination in its own right; enabling seamless trading, improved facilities, indoor and outdoor seating and toilet facilities. Ultimately becoming an attractive and dynamic use on this key route in the city.

The new development could also help to meet some of Manchester’s housing needs offering a mix of one, two and three bedroomed apartments in a sustainable location, close to jobs, facilities and transport.